Part 3/8:
Historically, Alawism is characterized by its esoteric nature, making it one of the least understood religious groups. There exists ongoing debate regarding whether Alawism constitutes an independent faith or is merely a sect of Shia Islam. The lineage of Alawism dates back to the ninth century and is often traced to a figure named Muhammad bin Nusayr al-Khursani, a student of the Shia Imams. He advocated for a belief system that distanced itself from mainstream Islamic practices.